Rocky Hill, CT., October 21, 2013 —The Clean Energy Finance & Investment Authority (CEFIA) launched the GoSolarCT web portal and campaign, designed to build awareness of the money saving benefits for homeowners seeking to “go solar”. The website includes a new online tool enabling more than 1 million Connecticut homeowners to obtain specific data regarding their home’s suitability for solar and to compare energy and cash savings for solar leases and loans. GoSolarCT is part of the state’s Energize Connecticut initiative seeking to provide residents and businesses with cleaner, cheaper and more reliable energy opportunities.

The GoSolarCT.com website allows residents to learn whether their house is right for solar and to obtain information about the benefits and potential costs. Residents can also learn how a variety of new financing products can make the clean, reliable technology more accessible for them. GoSolarCT.com provides a list of local solar installers that offer the new financing products or connects those seeking more detailed information to dedicated solar guides to help them through the process. The innovative web tool is a free resource made possible by a public-private partnership between CEFIA and Geostellar, the nation’s largest online solar energy marketplace.

“I believe this will be a terrific tool to support the competitive growth of local installers as well as enhance awareness and opportunities for homeowners looking to take advantage of solar energy”, stated Representative Lonnie Reed, Co-Chair of the Connecticut General Assembly Energy and Technology Committee. “This is just the type of innovative program and marketing development that we hoped would come from the folks at CEFIA…..and once again they are delivering.”

CEFIA offers forward-thinking Connecticut residents many financing products, each with unique features, to support both direct ownership and leasing of systems, making solar power more affordable and accessible for homeowners statewide. GoSolarCT will further educate Connecticut residents about these financing tools and the benefits of Solar PV.

“We are confident that the GoSolarCT initiative will enable ‘solar-curious’ residents across the state to learn how to access cleaner and cheaper solar energy with a variety of affordable financing options,” said Kerry O’Neill, Director of Residential Programs for CEFIA. “Our research has shown that homeowners are interested in learning how to go solar and trust their neighbors who are leading the charge. Our new site, www.gosolarct.com, and efforts to drive awareness of other local solar efforts help bring solar to residents across Connecticut.”

On Saturday, October 5, 2013 several state residents already enjoying solar energy supported National Solar Day and the American Solar Energy Society’s (ASES) 18th annual National Solar Tour by opening their homes. Homeowners in neighborhoods across Connecticut--from Fairfield to Mansfield and Willimantic to Westport-- shared their story of how CEFIA helped them to “go solar” and control and reduce their energy costs.

“We are proud to have a Solarize Westport home and glad to share our experience with the program as part of this outreach effort”, stated Jonathan Steinberg, House Vice-Chair, Legislature’s Energy and Technology Committee. “With the expansion of financing options now available to homeowners interested in installing systems, I expect there will be tremendous growth in the number of homes that access solar energy. Westport also participates in the C-PACE program and we hope that businesses will also take advantage of opportunities to install solar or pursue other energy-saving projects.”

Homeowners who install solar systems can slash their energy bills and boost the value of their homes. A recent University of California at Berkeley study found that installing a solar system has a significant impact on the value of a home.

There are now more financing products available to support residential solar projects then were previously available in the market. CEFIA has supported approximately 2,000 systems in the last 18 months without the benefit of multiple financing options.

Connecticut residents interested in the ease of securing financing to go solar can find out more at www.GoSolarCT.com.

About the Clean Energy Finance and Investment Authority
CEFIA was established by Connecticut’s General Assembly on July 1, 2011 as a part of Public Act 11-80. This new quasi-public agency supersedes the former Connecticut Clean Energy Fund. CEFIA’s mission is to help ensure Connecticut’s energy security and community prosperity by realizing its environmental and economic opportunities through clean energy finance and investments. As the nation’s first full-scale clean energy finance authority, CEFIA leverages public and private funds to drive investment and scale-up clean energy deployment in Connecticut. For more information about CEFIA, please visit www.ctcleanenergy.com.

About Energize CT
Energize Connecticut helps you save money and use clean energy. It is an initiative of the Energy Efficiency Fund, the Clean Energy Finance and Investment Authority, the State and your local electric and gas utilities with funding from a charge on customer energy bills. For more information please visit www.EnergizeCT.com.